Biological Information: (Jay Ghil)
- Born April 3rd, 1883, died August 19, 1937
- He was a Japanese author, intellectual, and political philosopher active during the early Showa period Japan
- Born on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture
- Real name was Kita Terujiro
- Audited lectures at Waseda University of Tokyo and was soon attracted to socialist ideas due to the socialist movements in Japan
- He was executed for his alleged role in the February 26 Incident
- Was an early critic of Japanese democracy, which he claimed had been corrupted by western values
- Was a former socialist and member of the nationalist Kokuryukai (Black Dragon Society)
- Played a significant and key role in the upsurge in the violent right-wing militarism in the 1930s
- his call for revolutionary regime inspired young dissidents to join the military which would nationalize wealth, sweep away existing political forms, and prepare Japan to establish leadership over all Asia
What political philosophy were they following? Did they support the notion of an emperor? What was their belief for their country or region's future? (Jae Lee)
-Early on he expressed a right wing socialism.
- He eventually became radically right wing.
- He associated with socialist organizations, and even more specifically with Japanese nationalists who supported socialist revolution in China.
- He became a member of the revolutionary group Tongmeng Hui or the United League.
- He wrote a book called Private History of the Chinese Revolution in 1916 and called for the Japanese citizens to support a revolution in China to expel the West.
- He then wrote again in 1916, a book called An Outline Plan for the Reconstruction of Japan which described steps he believed Japan should take in order to build Asian nationalism and get rid of the West.
- His book called for a coup to overthrow the current Japanese government, suspension of the constitution, and three years of martial law under the army.
- He also called for, in his book, a reorganizing of Japan's society. He believed that Japan should take the leading role in liberating nations such as China from the West.
- He then created the Yuzonsha, which is a right-wing political organization comprised of national socialist activities in 1920.
What people or persons would have challenged their beliefs or actions? (Some might even be at the ball). (Billy Park) A group of people named the Kempeitai. Kempeitai was the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army during 1881 to 1945. The Kempeitai's general affairs branch was in charge of the force's policy, personnel management, internal discipline, as well as communication with the Ministries of the Admiralty, the Interior, and Justice.
Something should be linked or pasted on the wiki which is a primary source of something that person said or wrote. That document (if it is a document) should not be longer than 500 words. (Jay Ghil)
An Outline Plan for the Reorganization of Japan contains Kita Ikki's suggestions for the changes necessary in Japanese society. Written in 1919, while Kita was still in Shanghai, the book was printed secretly and passed from hand to hand by Kita's associates. In 1920 its distribution was forbidden by the police. In 1923, after major excisions, the book .was published, only to be banned again shortly afterward. A third edition came out in 1926, but it, too, was later banned. The outline plan, of which the opening section is translated here, consists of cryptic announcements of steps to be taken, followed by notes justifying the steps and anticipating probable objections.
At present the Japanese empire is faced with a national crisis unparalleled its history; it faces dilemmas at home and abroad. The vast majority of the people feel insecure in their livelihood and are on the point of taking a lesson from the collapse of European societies, while those who monopolize political, military, and economic power simply hide themselves and, quaking with fear try to maintain their unjust position. Abroad, not England, America, Germany or Russia has kept its word, and even our neighbor China, which long benefited from the protection we provided through the Russo-Japanese War, not only has failed to repay us but instead despises us. Truly, we are a small island, completely isolated in the Eastern Sea. One false step and our nation will again fall into the desperate state of crisis—dilemmas at home and abroad—that mark the period before and after the Meiji Restoration. The only thing that brightens the picture is the 60 million fellow countrymen with whom we are blessed. The Japanese people must develop a profound awareness of the great cause of national existence and of the people's equal rights, and they need an unerring, discriminating grasp of the complexities domestic and foreign thought. The Great War in Europe was, like Noah's Flood, Heaven's punishment on them for arrogant and rebellious ways. . . .
Truly, our 700 million brothers in China and India have no path to independence other than that offered by our guidance and protection. And f Japan, whose population has doubled in the past fifty years, great areas adequate to support a population of at least 240 million or 250 million will be absolute necessary a hundred years from now. For a nation, one hundred years are like a hundred days for an individual. How can those who are anxious about the inevitable developments or who grieve over the desperate conditions of neighboring countries find their solace in the effeminate pacifism of doctrinal socialism? ... At a time when the authorities in the European and American revolutionary creeds have found it completely impossible to arrive at an understanding of the "gospel of the sword" because of their superficial philosophy, the noble Greece of Asian culture must complete its national reorganization on the basis of its own national polity. At the same time, let it lift the virtuous banner of an Asian league and take the leadership in the world federation that must come. In so doing let it proclaim to the world the Way of Heaven in which all are children of Buddha, and let it set an example that the world must follow.
Bibliography
" Kita Ikki – Dictionary definition of Kita Ikki | Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary ." Encyclopedia - Online Dictionary | Encyclopedia.com: Get facts, articles, pictures, video . N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2010. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-KitaIkki.html>.
"Kita Ikki - Everything on Kita Ikki (information, latest news, articles,...)." Spiritus-Temporis.com - Historical Events, Latest News, News Archives. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2010. <http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/kita-ikki/>.
Kita Ikki
Biological Information: (Jay Ghil)- Born April 3rd, 1883, died August 19, 1937
- He was a Japanese author, intellectual, and political philosopher active during the early Showa period Japan
- Born on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture
- Real name was Kita Terujiro
- Audited lectures at Waseda University of Tokyo and was soon attracted to socialist ideas due to the socialist movements in Japan
- He was executed for his alleged role in the February 26 Incident
- Was an early critic of Japanese democracy, which he claimed had been corrupted by western values
- Was a former socialist and member of the nationalist Kokuryukai (Black Dragon Society)
- Played a significant and key role in the upsurge in the violent right-wing militarism in the 1930s
- his call for revolutionary regime inspired young dissidents to join the military which would nationalize wealth, sweep away existing political forms, and prepare Japan to establish leadership over all Asia
What political philosophy were they following? Did they support the notion of an emperor? What was their belief for their country or region's future? (Jae Lee)
-Early on he expressed a right wing socialism.
- He eventually became radically right wing.
- He associated with socialist organizations, and even more specifically with Japanese nationalists who supported socialist revolution in China.
- He became a member of the revolutionary group Tongmeng Hui or the United League.
- He wrote a book called Private History of the Chinese Revolution in 1916 and called for the Japanese citizens to support a revolution in China to expel the West.
- He then wrote again in 1916, a book called An Outline Plan for the Reconstruction of Japan which described steps he believed Japan should take in order to build Asian nationalism and get rid of the West.
- His book called for a coup to overthrow the current Japanese government, suspension of the constitution, and three years of martial law under the army.
- He also called for, in his book, a reorganizing of Japan's society. He believed that Japan should take the leading role in liberating nations such as China from the West.
- He then created the Yuzonsha, which is a right-wing political organization comprised of national socialist activities in 1920.
What people or persons would have challenged their beliefs or actions? (Some might even be at the ball). (Billy Park)
A group of people named the Kempeitai. Kempeitai was the military police arm of the Imperial Japanese Army during 1881 to 1945. The Kempeitai's general affairs branch was in charge of the force's policy, personnel management, internal discipline, as well as communication with the Ministries of the Admiralty, the Interior, and Justice.
Something should be linked or pasted on the wiki which is a primary source of something that person said or wrote. That document (if it is a document) should not be longer than 500 words. (Jay Ghil)
An Outline Plan for the Reorganization of Japan contains Kita Ikki's suggestions for the changes necessary in Japanese society. Written in 1919, while Kita was still in Shanghai, the book was printed secretly and passed from hand to hand by Kita's associates. In 1920 its distribution was forbidden by the police. In 1923, after major excisions, the book .was published, only to be banned again shortly afterward. A third edition came out in 1926, but it, too, was later banned. The outline plan, of which the opening section is translated here, consists of cryptic announcements of steps to be taken, followed by notes justifying the steps and anticipating probable objections.
At present the Japanese empire is faced with a national crisis unparalleled its history; it faces dilemmas at home and abroad. The vast majority of the people feel insecure in their livelihood and are on the point of taking a lesson from the collapse of European societies, while those who monopolize political, military, and economic power simply hide themselves and, quaking with fear try to maintain their unjust position. Abroad, not England, America, Germany or Russia has kept its word, and even our neighbor China, which long benefited from the protection we provided through the Russo-Japanese War, not only has failed to repay us but instead despises us. Truly, we are a small island, completely isolated in the Eastern Sea. One false step and our nation will again fall into the desperate state of crisis—dilemmas at home and abroad—that mark the period before and after the Meiji Restoration. The only thing that brightens the picture is the 60 million fellow countrymen with whom we are blessed. The Japanese people must develop a profound awareness of the great cause of national existence and of the people's equal rights, and they need an unerring, discriminating grasp of the complexities domestic and foreign thought. The Great War in Europe was, like Noah's Flood, Heaven's punishment on them for arrogant and rebellious ways. . . .
Truly, our 700 million brothers in China and India have no path to independence other than that offered by our guidance and protection. And f Japan, whose population has doubled in the past fifty years, great areas adequate to support a population of at least 240 million or 250 million will be absolute necessary a hundred years from now. For a nation, one hundred years are like a hundred days for an individual. How can those who are anxious about the inevitable developments or who grieve over the desperate conditions of neighboring countries find their solace in the effeminate pacifism of doctrinal socialism? ... At a time when the authorities in the European and American revolutionary creeds have found it completely impossible to arrive at an understanding of the "gospel of the sword" because of their superficial philosophy, the noble Greece of Asian culture must complete its national reorganization on the basis of its own national polity. At the same time, let it lift the virtuous banner of an Asian league and take the leadership in the world federation that must come. In so doing let it proclaim to the world the Way of Heaven in which all are children of Buddha, and let it set an example that the world must follow.
Bibliography
" Kita Ikki – Dictionary definition of Kita Ikki | Encyclopedia.com: FREE online dictionary ." Encyclopedia - Online Dictionary | Encyclopedia.com: Get facts, articles, pictures, video . N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2010. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-KitaIkki.html>.
"Kita Ikki - Everything on Kita Ikki (information, latest news, articles,...)." Spiritus-Temporis.com - Historical Events, Latest News, News Archives. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2010. <http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/kita-ikki/>.
"Kita Ikki." ABC-CLIO Social Studies Databases. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2010. <http://www.worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display.aspx?categoryid=22&entryid=317530&searchtext=kita+ikki&type=simple&option=all>.